Tourism board to debut TV network

Broward County’s official tourism marketing organization is launching its own digital TV channel this weekend, as part of several new initiatives rolling out in coming weeks and in early 2017 to promote the destination and woo travelers.

The 24/7 digital TV network, dubbed Hello Sunny TV, will kick off with live highlights from Saturday’s inaugural Riptide Music Festival along Fort Lauderdale beach, according to an announcement Thursday by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In addition to streaming live content of key events in Greater Fort Lauderdale, as Broward is marketed for tourism purposes, Hello Sunny will feature an ondemand library of videos showcasing the culinary, entertainment, arts and culture, sports, people and personalities of the destination, the tourism bureau said.

“We’re the only CVB that will be doing this,” said Stacy Ritter, the tourism bureau’s president and CEO, of the new digital TV platform. “That’s one of those things where you want people to say, ‘You know what, it’s cool to be in Fort Lauderdale’ … [and] if you’re not fortunate to be here in January, you can see all the wonderful things we do in 80 degree weather.”

People can tune in to Hello Sunny TV through the tourism bureau’s website at sunny.org/TV, via their mobile and desktop device and on smart TVs or through streaming media players such as Apple TV.

The tourism bureau showed off elements of the new TV platform and other 2017 initiatives on tap to 500 hospitality industry supporters and partners during a marketing presentation at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

Among other advertising, marketing and public relations initiatives revealed were:

Launch of its first collection of “Hello Sunny” branded merchandise, which will be sold initially at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

International tourism sales activities to tout the new air service coming to Fort Lauderdale, including Emirates’ nonstop route from Dubai, which launches Dec. 15; British Airways’ flights to London Gatwick Airport starting July 6; and Norwegian Air Shuttle’s route to Barcelona beginning Aug. 22.

Target marketing to LGBTQ millennials and a focus on gay family travel.